Happy #32

Scott turned 32 yesterday!

On Saturday, the two of us went out for sushi and shopping.

Yesterday was a nice, relaxing day filled with family time.

And cake.

Happy birthday, Scotty! We sure love you.

First grade portrait

Benjamin, 2012:

New kids' rooms

At the end of the summer, we swapped the kids' rooms and rearranged their furniture.

This is what we did with the boys' room (Jamin's bed is on the left, and Travis' is on the right):

Bulletin board/backpack/toy basket area:

Last week, my mom & David sent over a huge shipment of goodies after their San Diego house sold. My childhood bed became Libby's new bed:

Closer view of her ladybug bedding:

Autumn so far...

Our family headed out to Linder Farms for the first of many trips this season:

Libby-- with her usual sense of style-- is potty training ("Oh, hello pee!"):

Jamin and I harvested our more sensitive vegetables with frost looming in the forecast:

 

We enjoy the crisp mornings and warm afternoons outside as often as we can:

Of course, the boys are all busy with school-- especially Scott, who studies full-time on top of his full-time job. We appreciate the hard work he puts in each day for our family. I honestly don't know how he juggles it all.

Easy like Friday morning

Monday through Thursday mornings are pretty nuts. The kids rush to get ready for school, music class, and appointments. This juggling act leaves little time for leisure.

But Fridays...

Only Jamin has school. And Jamin just needs an occasional reminder about time from me; other than that, he's totally self-sufficient.

On Friday mornings, Travis and Libby ease into their day.

They build forts at 7 AM.

They dress up and go "trick-or-treating" in the back yard.

They play.

On Saturdays, Jamin eases into his mornings, too.

Bus stop fashion

I get so used to Travis & Libby's creative outfits... until adoring smiles from passing neighbors remind me to slow down and capture a few pictures.

From yesterday morning's excursion to Jamin's bus stop (pajamas, messy hair, stuffed animals, hats, back packs, cell phones, pine cones, and more):

Girl time

Now that Jamin and Travis are both in school, Libby and I share a few mornings together each week. While I spend some of that time running errands and taking care of chores-- much easier with just one child-- a good portion of this window is our "girl time." 

We laugh and have a lot of fun.

Even during a dress-up tea party, Libby's status as only girl becomes evident when she blindsides me with her roughest tackles. She may be tiny, but she is strong. 

"I tackle you, Princess Mama!"